Religious beliefs and political participation in US politics

23 Sept 04:31 Key points summarised by AI

The concept of a unified "Catholic vote" in the US is outdated, as American Catholics now exhibit diverse voting patterns, with data showing little difference from non-Catholics and significant segmentation by race and ethnicity.
While white evangelicals remain a strong Republican voting bloc, often driven by a perceived sense of persecution, other evangelical groups, including Latino and Asian American communities, show more varied political affiliations.
The US is undergoing rapid secularization, with non-religious Americans predominantly aligning with the political left; active secularists, in particular, are staunchly Democratic and politically engaged, though less organized than the religious right.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.